Vending machine with temperature control system

ABSTRACT

A temperature control system mounted in the chassis of a vending machine is quickly detachable as a single unit. The chassis comprise a base panel and a mounting panel substantially parallel to the base panel. The temperature control system comprises a bracket, a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. The bracket comprises a supporting plate and a pair of mounting plates fixed to the supporting plate. The compressor and the condenser are mounted on the supporting plate. The evaporator is attached to the pair of mounting plates and located above the compressor and the condenser. The pair of mounting plates engages with the pair of first gaps when the temperature control system is mounted in the chassis and the pair of mounting plates is simply disengaged away from the pair of first gaps when the temperature control system needs to be detached from the chassis.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a vending machine with a temperature control system.

2. Description of Related Art

A temperature control system of a vending machine includes a condenser, a compressor, and an evaporator. Each of the condenser, the compressor, and the evaporator is mounted in a chassis of the vending machine by screws. If the temperature control system needs to be detached from the chassis, it is inconvenient to detach one by one the condenser, the compressor, and the evaporator.

Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of a vending machine with a temperature control machine in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the circled portion II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the temperature control system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3, but viewed from another aspect.

FIG. 5 is an assembled view of the temperature control system of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an assembled view of the vending machine of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.”

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a vending machine comprising a chassis 100, a temperature control system 200, and a cover plate 300. A plurality of mounting holes 310 is defined in the cover plate 300 for securing the cover plate 300 and the temperature control system 200 in the chassis 100.

The chassis 100 includes a base panel 110 and a pair of protruding flanges 113 extending substantially perpendicularly from the base panel 110. The pair of protruding flanges 113 is located adjacent to opposite sides of the base panel 110. A limiting flange 112 extends substantially perpendicularly from a top edge of each of the pair of protruding flanges 113. A heat dissipation panel 130 is attached to the base panel 110 and substantially perpendicular to the base panel 110. The heat dissipation panel 130 is located behind rear ends of the pair of protruding flanges 113. A plurality of heat dissipation holes 131 is defined in the heat dissipation panel 130. A mounting panel 120 is attached to the heat dissipation panel 130 and substantially parallel to the base panel 110. A rear side of the mounting panel 120 abuts the heat dissipation panel 130. A front side of the mounting panel 120 is aligned with front ends of the pair of protruding flanges 113. A plurality of securing holes 122 is defined in the front side of the mounting panel 120 corresponding to the plurality of mounting holes 310. A pair of first gaps 121 is defined in the front side of the mounting panel 120. A leak hole 123 is defined in the mounting panel 120. An opening 133 is defined in a bottom portion of the heat dissipation panel 130. A first clip piece 135 extends substantially perpendicularly from a top edge of the opening 133. A clip member 114 is mounted on the base panel 110 and located adjacent to a bottom edge of the opening 133. A second clip piece 1141 extends from the clip member 114 and is aligned with the first clip piece 135.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the temperature control system comprising a bracket 205, a compressor 230, a condenser 240, and an evaporator 250. The compressor 230, the condenser 240, and the evaporator 250 are held by the bracket 205.

The bracket 205 includes a supporting plate 210 and a pair of mounting plates 220, fixed to opposite sides of the supporting plate 210. The pair of mounting plates 220 is substantially perpendicular to the supporting plate 210. A second gap 221 is defined in each of the pair of mounting plates 220. A handle 213 is attached to the supporting plate 210 and located between the pair of mounting plates 220. The pair of mounting plates 220 and the handle 213 are located adjacent to a front side of the supporting plate 210. A pair of wheels 212 is attached to each lateral side of the supporting plate 210. A limiting block 211 is attached to a rear side of the supporting plate 210. A water dish 260 is attached to one of the pair of mounting plates 220 and substantially parallel to the supporting plate 210. The water dish 260 is located adjacent to a lower edge of the second gap 221.

The condenser 240 includes a main body 241, a plurality of heat dissipation pipes 242 extending through the main body 241, and a first fan 243 attached to the main body 241.

The evaporator 250 includes a casing and a plurality of second fans 252 mounted in the casing. The casing includes a flat base surface and a slanting panel 251 which is oblique relative to the flat base surface. The plurality of second fans 252 is obliquely positioned and has the same oblique angle as the slanting panel 251.

The temperature control system 200 further includes a first pipe 270 configured for connection to the compressor 230 and the condenser 240, a second pipe 280 configured to connect to the condenser 240 and the evaporator 250, and a third pipe 290 configured to provide a connection between the evaporator 250 and the compressor 230.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, in assembly, the compressor 230 and the condenser 240 are fixed on the supporting plate 210 and located below the water dish 260. The evaporator 250 is fixed to and located between the pair of mounting plates 220. The evaporator 250 is located above the second gap 221 and adjacent to an upper edge of the second gap 221. The first pipe 270 is connected between the compressor 230 and the condenser 240. The second pipe 280 is connected between the condenser 240 and the evaporator 250. The third pipe 290 is connected between the evaporator 250 and the compressor 230. The temperature control system 200 is thus assembled.

A rear one of the pair of wheels 212 is aligned with the limiting slot under the limiting flange 112. The pair of wheels 212 is slid into the limiting slot. The limiting block 211 is clipped between the first clip piece 135 and the second clip piece 1141. The second gap 221 is engaged with the corresponding first gap 121. The plurality of mounting holes 310 is aligned with the plurality of securing holes 122. A plurality of fasteners 320 extends through the plurality of mounting holes 310 and the plurality of securing holes 122 for securing the cover plate 300 to the mounting panel 120. The evaporator 250 is located above the mounting panel 120. The water dish 260, the condenser 240, and the compressor 230 are located below the mounting panel 120. The leak hole 123 is located between the evaporator 250 and the water dish 260.

To detach the temperature control system 200 from the chassis 100, the plurality of fasteners 320 is unscrewed. The cover plate 300 is detached from the mounting panel 120. The handle 213 is pulled out. The temperature control system 200 can then be slid out from the chassis 100. The mounting or dismounting of the temperature control system 200 is very convenient.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A vending machine comprising: a chassis comprising a base panel and a mounting panel that is substantially parallel to the base panel, a pair of first gaps defined in the mounting panel; and a temperature control system comprising a bracket, a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator; the bracket comprising a supporting plate and a pair of mounting plates fixed to the supporting plate, the compressor and the condenser are mounted on the supporting plate, and the evaporator is attached to the pair of mounting plates and located above the compressor and the condenser; wherein the pair of mounting plates is engaged with the pair of first gaps, when the temperature control system is mounted in the chassis, and the pair of mounting plates is disengaged away from the pair of first gaps, when the temperature control system is detached from the chassis.
 2. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein a pair of second gaps is defined in the pair of mounting plates for engaging with the pair of first gaps.
 3. The vending machine of claim 2, wherein the evaporator is located above the pair of second gaps, and the compressor and the condenser are located below the pair of second gaps.
 4. The vending machine of claim 3, wherein a water dish is fixed to one of the pair of mounting plates and located below the pair of second gaps, and the compressor and the condenser are located below the water dish.
 5. The vending machine of claim 4, wherein a leak hole is defined in the mounting panel and located between the evaporator and the water dish.
 6. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein the pair of mounting plates is located adjacent to a front side of the supporting plate, and a handle is attached on the supporting plate and located adjacent to the front side of the supporting plate.
 7. The vending machine of claim 6, wherein a limiting block is attached to a rear side of the supporting plate, and the chassis comprises a first clip piece and a second clip piece for clamping the limiting block when the temperature control system are mounted in the chassis.
 8. The vending machine of claim 7, wherein the chassis further comprises a heat dissipation panel substantially perpendicularly attached to the base panel and the mounting panel, and the first clip piece extends from the heat dissipation panel; and a clip member is mounted on the base panel, and the second clip piece extends from the clip member.
 9. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein a pair of protruding flanges extends substantially perpendicularly from the base panel, a limiting flange extends substantially perpendicularly from a top edge of each of the pair of protruding flanges, and a limiting slot is defined between the limiting flange and the base panel; and at least one wheel is attached to the supporting plate and capable sliding into or out from the limiting slot.
 10. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein the temperature control system further comprises a first pipe connected to the compressor and the condenser, a second pipe connected to the condenser and the evaporator, and a third pipe connected to the evaporator and the compressor.
 11. A vending machine comprising: a chassis comprising a base panel and a mounting panel that is substantially parallel to the base panel, at least one protruding flange extending substantially perpendicularly from the base panel and a limiting flange extending substantially perpendicularly from the at least one protruding flange, and a limiting slot defined between the limiting flange and the base panel; and a temperature control system comprising a bracket, a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator; the bracket comprising a supporting plate, a pair of mounting plates fixed to the supporting plate, and at least one wheel attached to the supporting plate, the compressor and the condenser are mounted on the supporting plate, and the evaporator is attached to the pair of mounting plates and located above the compressor and the condenser; wherein the at least one wheel is capable of sliding into the limiting slot for mounting the temperature control system in the chassis; and the at least one wheel is capable of sliding out from the limiting slot for detaching the temperature control system from the chassis.
 12. The vending machine of claim 11, wherein a pair of first gaps defined in the mounting panel, and a pair of second gaps is defined in the pair of mounting plates; the pair of second gaps is engaged with the pair of first gaps when the temperature control system is mounted in the chassis, and the pair of second gaps is disengaged away from the pair of first gaps when the temperature control system is detached from the chassis.
 13. The vending machine of claim 12, wherein the evaporator is located above the pair of second gaps, and the compressor and the condenser are located below the pair of second gaps.
 14. The vending machine of claim 13, wherein a water dish is fixed to one of the pair of mounting plates and located below the pair of second gaps, and the compressor and the condenser are located below the water dish.
 15. The vending machine of claim 14, wherein a leak hole is defined in the mounting panel and located between the evaporator and the water dish.
 16. The vending machine of claim 11, wherein the pair of mounting plates is located adjacent to a front side of the supporting plate, and a handle is attached on the supporting plate and located adjacent to the front side of the supporting plate.
 17. The vending machine of claim 16, wherein a limiting block is attached to a rear side of the supporting plate, and the chassis comprises a first clip piece and a second clip piece for clamping the limiting block when the temperature control system are mounted in the chassis.
 18. The vending machine of claim 17, wherein the chassis further comprises a heat dissipation panel substantially perpendicularly attached to the base panel and the mounting panel, the first clip piece extends from the heat dissipation panel; and a clip member is mounted on the base panel, and the second clip piece extends from the clip member.
 19. The vending machine of claim 11, wherein the condenser comprises a main body, a plurality of heat dissipation pipes extending through the main body, and a first fan attached to the main body.
 20. The vending machine of claim 11, wherein the evaporator comprises a casing and a plurality of second fans mounted in the casing, the casing comprises a flat base surface and a slanting panel oblique relative to the flat base surface, and the plurality of second fans is obliquely positioned and has the same oblique angle as the slanting panel. 